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Business Basics LabLLC paperwork, measured state by state.

Section 1 · Florida

Forming an LLC in Florida (2026): 7 Procedures and the 3 Best LLC Services

Result for 2026: forming an LLC in Florida is best served by Mainstay Filing ($199), Florida Registered Agent.io ($199) and FL Registered Agent.org ($199), ranked in that order. Recorded figures: 7 procedures, $125 to file, $138.75 for the annual report.

Recorded by the Business Basics Lab staff ·

The short version

State fee to file
$125Logged against flsenate.gov in October 2026
Annual report
$138.75 a yearDate per the state: May 1
State fees, three years
$402.50State charges only
Number of procedures
7Listed below

You will be able to

  • What Florida charges to form an LLC and who takes delivery of the filing
  • The registered agent requirement
  • What must be filed each year after formation
  • Who we would engage to file

Best reading

Services that measured best in Florida

The order follows five published criteria, set out in how we measure.
Begin here

1. Mainstay Filing: best for the annual report filed on the owner's behalf

$199 a year, with $324 at checkout for the state fee

Mainstay Filing comes first since one annual charge of $199 replaces three separate purchases: the filing, the registered agent and the annual report.

Three years run $200 higher than at Florida Registered Agent.io, in exchange for more of the work being done.

The owner does not file the annual report; the $138.75 state fee is simply passed through.

What the price performs

  • Formation filing
  • Registered agent for the full year
  • Annual report filed on schedule
  • EIN application included
  • State fee billed at cost

Measured strengths

  • No additional charge for the EIN application
  • Renews at $199
  • $199 yearly, all included

Measured limits

  • Its renewal is $100 higher than Florida Registered Agent.io's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Florida focus

2. Florida Registered Agent.io: best for owners who remain in Florida

$199 plus fees; $99 yearly after

Reading 2 belongs to Florida Registered Agent.io, because the Florida formation measures $199 with the agent covered in year one, and the agent renewal reads $99.

The annual report lies outside the price.

What the price performs

  • The filing is performed for you
  • Agent service for the first year

Measured strengths

  • $199 and the state fee
  • Agent covered for year one
  • The agent renews at $99

Measured limits

  • No annual report service is offered
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit Florida Registered Agent.ioPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Florida focus

3. FL Registered Agent.org: best for a local filer

$199 plus fees; $99 yearly after

Reading 3 belongs to FL Registered Agent.org, because the Florida formation measures $199 with the agent covered in year one, and the agent renewal reads $99.

The annual report lies outside the price.

It costs exactly what Florida Registered Agent.io costs.

What the price performs

  • The filing is performed for you
  • Agent service for the first year

Measured strengths

  • Agent covered for year one
  • The agent renews at $99
  • $199 and the state fee

Measured limits

  • No annual report service is offered
  • The EIN application costs $99 extra
Visit FL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Comparison of the services

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Florida Registered Agent.io$199$99/yr$397Visit Florida Registered Agent.ioPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3FL Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit FL Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices are recorded from each company's own site on November 13, 2026. Each row also requires the $125 state fee.

The sheet, procedure by procedure

  1. Procedure 1: Test the name for availability

    Run the name search at the Florida Division of Corporations before anything else.

    TipCarry a second name into the search.

  2. Procedure 2: Identify the registered agent

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A Florida resident, or a business entity authorized in Florida, whose business address is the registered office. The agent files a written acceptance.

    The address has to be a Florida street address that matches the agent's business address. P.O. boxes are not accepted. Florida law sets minimum hours of 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. on weekdays.

    TipEvery service measured on this sheet can act as the registered agent.

    Specimen: Logged against flsenate.gov in October 2026

  3. Procedure 3: Weigh the two routes

    The owner can file for $125 or add $199 for a service. The ranked services appear above.

  4. Procedure 4: Submit the Articles of Organization for Florida Limited Liability Company

    Deliver the Articles of Organization for Florida Limited Liability Company (Form CR2E047) and $125 to the Florida Division of Corporations; the authority is Fla. Stat. § 605.0201. That filing forms the LLC.

    Specimen: Logged against flsenate.gov in October 2026

  5. Procedure 5: Obtain an EIN

    Sequence: state approval, then the IRS number. With Mainstay Filing, this procedure is performed for the owner.

  6. Procedure 6: Set the ownership rules in writing

    Owners sign it to fix shares, votes and what follows a departure. It is a private document and is not filed.

  7. Procedure 7: Plan the second year

    Every year the LLC files the annual report with $138.75; due date May 1. Lateness costs $400.

    Specimen: Logged against flsenate.gov in October 2026

Florida costs by procedure

LinePaid toPrice
Forming the LLCThe state$125
Annual reportThe state$138.75 every year
Missing the deadlineThe state$400
Help from a serviceThe provider$199 in the first year
Three years of state feesThe state$402.50
Filing fee plus two later reports plus any minimum tax gives the state's three-year total. The specimens below name the page behind each amount.

How the Florida results were ordered

The deciding criterion was procedures the price performs, worth 28% of the reading.

Performing the annual report outweighed the lower price on our weights.

Florida questions

What is the cost of registering an LLC with Florida?

The state fee measures $125. Add $199 when a service files.

Which form creates the LLC?

Locate the Articles of Organization for Florida Limited Liability Company (Form CR2E047); the Florida Division of Corporations is where it is filed.

Is a registered agent required?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

What does Florida require each year?

Upkeep consists of the annual report ($138.75, every year, due May 1).

Can I form the LLC without a service?

Florida takes filings directly from owners, so no service is required; expect $125 and a registered agent.

Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?

The order of the readings is Mainstay Filing, Florida Registered Agent.io and FL Registered Agent.org. Mainstay Filing is first because $199 per year performs the formation, keeps the registered agent and files the annual report; year two measures $199.

Specimens and records

  1. To reproduce the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations result, consult dos.fl.gov. Our observation of it is dated August 2026.
  2. To reproduce the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations result, consult dos.fl.gov. Our observation of it is dated August 2026.
  3. To reproduce the Florida yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source result, consult flsenate.gov. Our observation of it is dated October 2026.
  4. To reproduce the Florida report due date result, consult leg.state.fl.us. Our observation of it is dated August 2026.
  5. To reproduce the Fla result, consult flsenate.gov. Our observation of it is dated August 2026.
  6. To reproduce the Florida formation fee: Filing fee, official source result, consult dos.fl.gov. Our observation of it is dated October 2026.
  7. To reproduce the Florida formation fee: Filing fee, official source result, consult flsenate.gov. Our observation of it is dated October 2026.
  8. To reproduce the Florida registered agent statute result, consult flsenate.gov. Our observation of it is dated October 2026.
  9. Observation of Mainstay Filing's Florida service page, November 13, 2026
  10. Observation of Florida Registered Agent.io's pricing page, November 13, 2026
  11. Observation of FL Registered Agent.org's pricing page, November 13, 2026